FAIRFIELD, IOWA -- For weeks, KTVO’s Facebook Fans have been asking why the price of gas in the Heartland is so high. Unfortunately, it is hard to get a straight answer to that question from any local station or national oil company. But we might have found a solution for you if you are in the market for a new vehicle.
The new Chevrolet Volt is now available in southeast Iowa.
The vehicle is the first of its kind. The Volt runs on both electricity and gas. With 250 HP – 273 lb.-ft of torque and a 379 mile range, the vehicle is sure making a good first impression.
“If it is a day when you are going to take off, and you are going to drive somewhere, and you are going to use your electric power, then it will take you up to 35 miles. After that, that’s when the generator will kick in with the gas capabilities,” said Doug Parcell of Fesler Auto Mall.
General Motors has spent millions of dollars and years of perfecting the Volt before sending it to mass production.
One of the biggest obstacles of mass producing an electric vehicle is getting charging stations installed around the country. The fact is that several charging stations have already been installed in the Heartland and more are in the planning stages. That makes an electric vehicle even more lucrative to purchase.
When purchasing the vehicle, the owner would also have to purchase a charging station which will work with your standard outlet. To fully charge the vehicle would cost roughly $1.50.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has given the Chevrolet Volt a 5-Star safety rating, one of the highest ratings any vehicle can receive.
Brian Starnes of Fesler Auto Mall in Fairfield, Iowa spoke about how this car and others like it could be a step in the right direction when it comes to fossil fuel dependency.
“It’s going to be one component with how cars are going to be produced from now on. I think that most of our manufactures are going to have entries into different alternative fuel segments. I don’t think that there is one solution to our fossil fuel dependency. I think that the fix is several different solutions,” said Starnes.
Fesler Auto Mall will be having an open house event Thursday November 3rd from 8 am to 8 pm. The open house will showcase the Volt, along with its Chevrolet sibling, the Sonic. The open house will allow customers to get to know the Volt better and the technologies associated with the vehicle. Fesler will also be celebrating Chevrolet’s 100th birthday.
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